Do You Know, That? The Biggest Gothic Construction Of The World

In past chapters, we often paid attention to the tecnics, but this time, we make a return to history which has to us, especially in Europe, many things to offer.

When we mention Gothic time period or Middle Age, everybody would imagine the Knight´s arms, cruel struggles, romantic heroes, eager for conquest expeditions, and the castles, which remained for us (as well as majestic cathedrals) main symbols of medioeval architecture till now. Nevertheless, we do not mention the most known cathedral, built from chilly granite stones.

So, our today´s target will be Malbork - Crusaders´ Castle - the biggest Gothic construction and the greatest building of the world, made from burnt brick-built.

Do you know where the castle is situated? You do not find it in France, Great Britain or in Germany. This castle, quite important from historical point of view, is placed in North Poland, in the town of the same name, along banks of Nogat-river. The other important port town of Gdansk, is situated in 60 kilometres north direction, also very interesting locality with its historic and trade importance.

The grounds of such originally defensive stronghold were created in 1274, according to the order of German Knights' Order, as past non-stable situation of North Europe (where there were - of old times - power conflicts among nations of Germany, Prussia and rebellious Baltic clans) brought with also a need of fixed supporting pounts of ruling powers. At that time period, even a community was established, which got later even the acknowledgment of town´s rights. The castle was formed from three fortificated parts.

So called Low Castle served as economical backround, i.e. for stables, accommodation (lodge) for Order Brothers, and as backround for knights and servants. Inside Central Castle - there was placed Grand-Master palace, including representative rooms (chambers), Order´s office and refectory (dining room) for the guests.

Finally, Upper Castle was consisted of Council Chamber (room for Order meetings), Holy Virgin Mary Church, hospital, store-room, well and other spaces for accommodation of welcome visitors. Brick walls were strengthened with granite in most threatened places. The granite resisted better against arms of invaders, first of all, on fortifications and gates.

So, Malbork Castle reached its top between 1309-1457, when it became of Crusaders´ state, with a seat of solitary Order Grand Master. The exceptionality of such castle stronghold consisted, first of all, in its non-impregnability. This fact was proved in 1410 by Polish-Lithuanian troops during Grunwald Battle, where German Knights struggled against Polish army troops of Vladislav II. Yagellon, supported by Jan Žižka (he obviously lost his one eye there). So, one of most bloody struggles (fights) of Middle Age were effected there (12-16 thousands of killed soldiers). This fight had, as a consequence, an  important weakening of German Knights´ influence for „European politics“ of that time period.

Malbork Castle was never conquested. The Poles obtained it just in 1457, when Polish King Kasimir Yagelon bought it (from a crew which did not received their soldiers´pay - reward - for long time) - for uncredible price - six tonnes of gold. Army troops of Swedes, Napoleon or hords of rebels (during Poland division) did not brought a lot a town nor stronghold, so it was necessary to start more difficult reconstruction. This operation begun in 1817 and was terminated shortly before the 2nd World War. However, the reconstruction works had to be started again from the very beginning, as Wehrmacht troops went through, followed by Red Army troops, which finished their desctructive works. During the war, even Gestapo had its chief command. there. Within 1950-1960, the castle as well as some parts of destructed town, were practically taken to pieces, and the material was taken away for Warsaw reconstruction. So, the absence of historical  town centre did not offered a lot of space for tourist activities, as required by slowly reconstructed castle. Since the beginning of 1961, Castle Museum was open for public, as an attractive target for tourists, and finally, the complex could be registered in UNESCO - World Culture and Nature Heritage Survey - in 1997, as the greatest medioeval citadel in Europe.

During sightseeing tour, you can visit all three joined castle buildings, surrounded with powerful protective walls and gigantic gates and towers. The guide leads you inside castle interiors, where you can admire great refectory, kitchen, dormitory, chapel, magnificent halls as well as guarded points on battlements, from there you can have nice outlook towards environments. Beside nice Gothic interiors and interesting decoration, you can find there also a collection of amber jewels, artistic handy works, china (porcellain), Gothic statues and historical weapons.  In sunset - illumination, the castle says good-bye to you by means of impressive sceneries of endless lines of burnt-brick-builts „Zendrowek“, giving such place unrepeatable colour shade in the whole spectrum of red earth, in contrast to blue sky and effective green shade of close park ground.

Text: Jan Chaloupka

Photo: Wikipedia Commons